I met someone who changed my life. I offered her all I could and felt I hadn't offered her enough, yet she did not have much to offer me and yet I felt she gave me so much.
Walking my mom to the train station I passed by Tamsin, ever so polite. Not giving up, not feeling sorry for herself and by some miracle managing o still look good, clean and tidy. I walked passed thinking that was the best looking homeless person I ever saw. Is she really homeless? How did it happen. Yet still I walked passed. In a hurry with no time to waste, mom was late.
After dropping off mom, on the way back.... not my usual route.... I walked slower.... watched her as I approached.... same questions went through my mind. Ponytail held up.... neatly....excuse me mum, excuse me sir, good day mom, good day sir.... ever so polite. Seating in the street, cross legged, that could be me, it could be you....But would we be as graceful, as strong?
As I approached her, she greeted me with the same polite greeting she did a few moments ago when I walked past her with not as much as a second glance. I stopped and gave her all the change I had in my purse. And Walked on....
As I walked I started to wonder...... I couldn't just walk away. So I went back.... asked her if I could sit with her and I did. Right from the onset, she surprised me. She was a gardener that got an infection and broke her spine. She has two sons, 13 and 9. She has been homeless almost a month or two. I sat there talking to her and she changed my world.... My heart went out to her as we spoke and she fought tears when she told me about her son's event that she missed coz she couldn't afford the fare. I started to feel that I was causing her more pain than comfort so I thought I should leave. I got up and walked away.....
Again, I did not get far.... I went back and asked her if she wanted to come spend the night at the house I was staying at, she politely declined putting my interests and safety before hers. Should I have insisted? Could I have convinced her? Was it even my place to invite her over seeing as I was staying at somebody else's house? I walked away and all these things kept playing through my mind.
I went back to her. wrote down my phone number and asked her to call me if ever she needed a place to stay or a warm shower or cup of tea or meal as long as I was still around. We had another brief conversation and I walked away.... this time, at peace.
I walked away changed from the inside.... I hope she calls and I hope I can help her.... I hope she manages to pick herself up.... I hope many things for her... I hope she gets to know Christ. I hope she lives. I hope ad I hope coz I can't stop thinking about her.
